By Kelly Havens
More and more states and utilities are talking about energy efficiency as one solution to the climate-change challenge, but how much can really be saved from energy efficiency? As it turns out, a very substantial amount of money and greenhouse gases.
So how is energy efficiency achieved? There are a number of ways to reduce the energy usage of everyday appliances in the home, from unplugging devices at night to replacing old equipment. The savings from efficient practices can be phenomenal. A classic example is shown in a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Arthur H. Rosenfeld, California Energy Commission chairman and a "founding father" of energy efficiency. By upgrading refrigerator efficiency from 1974 levels to 2001 levels, monetary savings in the U.S. can be achieved that almost equal to the value of all nuclear energy.
http://www.ucop.edu/facil/sustain/documents/rosenfeld.pdf
A more recent example is Energy Star’s “Change the World, Take the Pledge” campaign. At the website, you can pledge to reduce your energy usage—by simple steps such as replacing an incandescent light bulb with a new compact fluorescent light bulb. As of the writing of this article, the website states that Energy Star has garnered 1,833,010 pledges, resulting in 225,970,368 dollars of savings and 3,147,334,256 pounds of greenhouse gases reductions!
Considering that these savings have resulted from just 0.6 percent of the U.S. population’s taking the pledge, the potential for energy efficiency savings in the U.S. is colossal. So take the pledge! As an additional motivator, local power suppliers may offer financial incentives for reducing your energy usage. To find energy efficiency rebates, loans or tax credits in your area, search the comprehensive database on DSIRE's website.
Comments
Leave a comment